Wire-stretcher.



No. 705,555. Patented July '29, I902.

R. F. BOATBIGHT.

WIRE STBETCHER.

(Appkication filed July 10. 190041 (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT F. BOATRIGHT, OF KA, VIRGINIA.

WIRE-SSTRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 705,555, dated July 29, 1902.

Application filed July 10, 1900. Serial No. 23,147. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT F. BOATRIGHT,

exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to wire-stretchers; and it has for its object to provide a simple construction which will be cheap of manufacture and through which the wire will not slip, a further object of the invention being to provide a construction including a lever and a wire-grip, the grip being so formed as to tightly hold the Wire without making a kink or necessitating a bendin the wire and without marring the galvanization of the wire.

An additional object of the invention is to so form the wire-grip that it may be provided with a hard-metal lining that may be applied in such manner as to insure it remaining in place under working condition.

As wire fences are now built, so-called,

hard wire is largely used and which must not be kinked or bent in the stretching operation for the reason that it is liable to break when brought back to its proper form; and it is the object of this invention to provide a tool which may be used with this style wire as well as with softer wire.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like numerals'of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the complete device. Fig. 2 is a section taken in a plane longitudinally of the lever and centrally through the web of the hook of the grip, the lever being shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is a section of the grip in a plane at right angles to the plane in which Fig. 2 is taken.

Referring now to the drawings, the wirestretcher comprises a lever a, on which is slidably mounted the ring f, forming the base of the wire-grip, this base f having an opening g, in which the lever is received, and to hold the ring at different points of its movement along the lever a set-screw o isprovided. From the base-ringf there projects a hook, including a stem h and a bill t', havinga connecting-web 7c, the face of the stem h adjacent to the hill '5 lying in the plane of a diameter of the ringf. The inner face of the bill t of the hook is convex from the inner face of the web to thetip Z of the bill. The web of the hook is arc-shaped or arched at its inner face, the arch extending from one side of the web to the other and between the bill and the stem, so that while the bill and stem are separated by a slight interspace at the central or thickest portion of the web said bill and stem meet at the side edges of the web. The inner faces of the stem, bill, and web are recessed, as shown 'in Figs. 2 and 3, and in the recesses thereof is fitted a hard-steel facing comprising diverging members m and 6, having a connecting web or bight. (Shown in Fig. 3.) This facing fits in the recesses flush with the stem and bill and covering the curved "or'arched face of the web. In the application of the facing it may either be sprung into the recess after the hook is formed or the hook may be bent around the facing, as will be understood, and when the facing is once in place in the recesses and upon the web it is held immovably. The lever a at its fulcrum end is turned laterally in the plane of the wire-grip and is slightly broadened, the end of this broadened portion cbeing serrated, as shown at d, to prevent slipping of the lever in operation.

To operate the stretcher, the hook is engaged with the wire, so that the latter is in direct contact with the hard-metal facing thereof, and the tooth or serrated end of the lever is engaged with a post, after which the lever is operated in the usual manner to draw the wire tight. Because of the formation of the hook the wire is not injured and may be readily disengaged from the hook.

What is claimed is a h 1. A wire stretcher comprising an open hook including a stem and bill .havinga connecting-web, the inner faces of the stem and bill being recessed and the connecting-web being arched transverselyon its inner face, and a facing including spaced members and an arched connecting-web, said facing being disposed with its spaced members in the recesses of' the stem and bill and with its arched web fitted upon the arched face of the web of the hook,whereby the face is held im movably.

2. A Wire-stretcher comprising a lever having a laterally-turned end adapted to engage inner faces of the stem, bill and web of the 10 hook.

In testimony whereof I hereunto sign my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

R. F. BOATRIGHT.

Witnesses:

W. W. FLANARY, W. A. CARTER. 

